Watchman&#39;s tour signal system



Nov. 28, 1933.

H. G. LEACH WATCHMANS TOUR'S I GNAL SYSTEM Filed July 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H m N R W w NG MT R m Hm NOV. 28, 1933. LEACH 1,937,279

WATCHMANS TOUR SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed July 26. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HENRY G. LA CH ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 H. G. LEACH WATCHMANS TOUR SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed July 26. 1930 75 INVENTOR HENRY GZLEA cH ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1933.

Nov. 28, 1933. H. G. LEACH WATCHMANS TOUR SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed July 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I. (I ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28,

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE 7 1,937,279 WATCHMANS .TOUR SIGNAL sYsrEM Henry -G. Leach, Red Bank, N. 11., assignor to Electrical Industries Manufacturing Company, New York, N. I a-corporation of New York Application July 26, 1930. Serial .No. 471,052 l Glaim. -(Cl. 17'7360) and when hecompletes the same. It is essential,

however, thatzit will not be possiblefor. the watchman .to send :such signal unless and afterhe has visitedall of .the diiferent stationsof the circuit.

The invention has for an object .a system .embodying a-plurality of lock orpreliminary stations adapted'to beoperated by a key which serves then to release a further and different key normally 20 lockedin position at a station, said released key in turn serving for unlocking a different key similarly heldin the next consecutive station of a series. i

A further object of the invention resides inthe provision of 'a transmitter .apparatus from which a signal is sent'to suitable registering means, the same being operable only at the initiating of a round and by means of a suitable key. This key serves also :torelease from the first preliminary .39 station of the round adiiferent key for operating in succession the various lock stations as hereinafter more .fully set forth, and eventually freeing a further key from the final cstation' suitable for operating a second lock element of the transmitter ,35 apparatus, the first lock element of which was locked upon completion of the starting signal previous to the removal of the corresponding key therefrom.

Astill further object ofthe invention resides 40 inearsystem which will require the watchman to retrace his route after having sent the aforesaid second signal from thetransmitter apparatus and thus ofiering from a diiferent direction a view of the territory covered.

-Other objects of the invention reside in novel means for locking a key at its station and rendering :more difficult picking-of alock; also, inthe construction :of the transmitter apparatus.

In carrying :outzthel invention, the transmitter station may .bevlocated atthe point where a watchman-starts his round,.and thesame is-pro- 'vide'dwith .a pair of different looks. The said stationis arranged through the operation of its locks-tobe electrically connectedto :a suitable "5'5 registering-:01 recording member located at :some

arrangement of'a plurality ofstations with trans- ;convenient point. under the supervision of ;the

proper authority; and key-manipulatedpr ,pre-

-liminary stations are posted at various points along the route to be covered. These Jattersta- .tions 'eachcomprise .a pair of different .locks no operable bydifferent keys, a. key for theinitialand a key for the final .station .being adapted, al o, for operatingv the transmitter apparatus.

Normally, .one key is lockedat ,each -,of the .preliminary stations and .maynot be removed there- 5555 from until the key from the preceding stationis used in the look at said station; and the keyfor the :initialstation isv obtainable onl from the proper authority. .This latter gkfiy :is intended to be .first inserted in a lock element ,of the trans- 310 vmitter and turned :to toperate the transmitter apparatus ior giving notice at the receiving station that the :watchman has reached said transmitter station; and as he is .about to begin his round, .zthelkey is further operated to transmit an '15 additional signal as well .as to release the key.

This particular portion of the transmitterapparatus .becomeslocked thereby though thekey is then removable therefrom.

- Whenthis released key is theninserted in the 30 first of the stations alongthe route for thepurpose of turning one of. the locks thereof, itbecomes automaticallylocked therein but at the same timereleases thekey which, previously, had been locked at said station. This latter key, in .35 turn, is similarlyvapplied to the next succeeding station to release a key therefrom and soon until eventuallytne final station is reached and its key released. I v g I The key released thereat is then used to trans- .mit. asignal, .or preferably, two signals, from the transmitter apparatus atthe other of its lock elements which action, in turn, resets the first-. named lock thereof and prevents also further. operation of .the last-actuated lock. The various operations-of locking and unlocking? keys atrthe different stationsis' then accomplished. along the routein the reverse manner and until .thezkey initially insertedin the first station of the route is again released. It'may'then-be: returned to the first-named lock of the transmitterapparatus for sending a signal therefrom and lefttherein until a round of the various stations isgagain'to be undertaken.

The natureiofthe invention, however, will best i .be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view indicating the of. compartment through the retraction of a springmitter and registering apparatus associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the transmitter appara-,

tus, with portion of the cover broken away to disclose the interior.

Fig. 3 is an underneath view of the transmitter apparatus with bottom of casing removed; and Fig. 3a is a fragmentary elevation of a locking lever employed therein.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the preliminary station devices.

Fig. 5 is a Vertical section through one of said devices with key thereof shown locked in position.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a type of key which may be employed for operating said device.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section through one of the station devices; and Fig.8 is a bottom view with portion of base broken away.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 10 designates the casing of a registering or recording apparatus of any well-known or special designand may be located at some central point or headquarters under proper supervision. This ap'pa-.

ratus is electrically connected through the loads 11 with a transmitter station 12 located at a point where a watchman is to initiate and complete his tour of various preliminary stations 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, etc., the order of travel being as indicated by the full line arrows on the way out and by the dotted line arrows on the return course.

The transmitter apparatus 12 comprises asuit- 'able casing which is sealed in the manner hereinafter set forth to prevent access to its interior; and the same is provided in its upper surface with two keyhole slots 21'and 22 respectively, these slots being adapted to receive a sleeveprotected key member of the nature more particularly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings and adapted to fit lock barrels 21 and 22'. This key comprises the winged head 23 with shoulder portion 24 and from whichextends downwardly a protective and locking sleeve 25 surrounding'the key proper 26, said sleeve being provided also with the lateral projection or nose 27. By thus surrounding the actuating key portion 26 with the sleeve 25 not only is it more difficult to duplicate the said active key portion 26, but the sleeve itself is adapted for efiecting locking of an inserted key, as hereinafter set forth in connection with the operation at the various stations l3, 14, etc. a The casing 20 contains, also, contact-making elements 28 which are operated by teeth 29adapted for engagement with fingers 30 to transmit a predetermined succession of electrical impulses through the leads 11 to the registering device 10.

The teeth 29 are rotated in the usual manner by a spring-motor device 31 which is manually wound by depressing a projecting finger or arm 32 accessible above the surface of casing 20-all of which is well known andforms no particular part I of the present. invention.

Casing 2fl, moreover, is divided into two compartments by a longitudinal partition 38 which 35 and to which access may be had only by the breaking of a glasswindow 36 of the cover there- Access is afforded thereby to the secondary urged locking plunger 37; and in permitting the cover to be removed also to the primary compartment when a further locking element, as the screw 38, is withdrawn. This screw serves to lock the cover of the primary compartment to the partition of the casing and is withdrawable only through the use of a specially-shaped tool operable in the secondary compartment. By this expedient, the transmitter apparatus is well secured against tampering; and signals therefrom may only be transmitted through operation by means of one or the other of two different keys of the nature of the key member shown in Fig. 6 and when the same is inserted in the proper socket 2l or 22.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, means are shown whereby release of the transmitter contact means is controlled in such a manner that the one key may operate, when inserted through the one key socket as the socket 21, to send successively two signals, and as well as by means of a different key inserted through the socket 22 to transmit two further signals. It is understood, however, that the second key may operate only after the other has completed its action, said second being locked in position after turning and until the sending of its first signal has been effected. This second key may be then turned back again sending an additional signal, which operation also frees the said key.

To this end, there is provided for the one look element an osciliatable locking member 46 and for the other lock element an oscillatable locking member 41 which may be rocked in accordance with the direction the key is turned. The looking members, moreover, are each provided with an arcuateslot 42 and 43 respectively, inwardly directed from a side edge and terminating in a locking notch 44 and 45 respectively. Lateral notches 46 and 47 are also provided on the respective locking members and the same are designed to receive the inner end of a lever 48 and a lever 49 to secure a locking member after has been turned through the required are by a key member. These levers are urged toward the respective notches 46 and 47 by a spring 50 bearing upon the opposite end'of the lever 48 and a spring 51 bearing upon the opposite end of the lever 49. When thus locked, the key may not be turnedback again until the locking member is released; and, normally, one locking member is free to be turned while the other is in the locked position.

To effect the release, the arm 32 is depressed and released to thereby'set in motion the signalling apparatus; and at the same time causing rotation of a cam 52 having engagement with a lever moves through a slot 42 or 43 and eventually drops into its'locking notch 44 or 45.

Movement of the cam, also, is terminated through engagement of pins 53 and 54 projecting at right angles from the cam engaging with the edge or" a' corresponding locking member 40 or 41. Thus, a key must be turned first in one direction, the signal sent, then turned in the opposite direction and a further signal sent, before thekey for the other locking element may become effective to tran mit signals.

The devices located at the different preliminary stations 13, 14, etc. are all alike and comprise an enclosing casin' 66 having keyhole openin'gs 61 and 62 in its top for permitting the insertion of a key sleeve 25 over suitable lock bar.- 1

mea re rels 63 and 64 which are mounted; within-the casing. The different barrelsiare adapted for operation by a key 26 when the head-.23 of the key member is turned in the proper direction, and have rigidly connected at 'their' lower ends and. below a locking plate 65 meshing gear wheels 66 and 67 to rotate therewith. As one barrel is, therefore, turned by its key, the other will be correspondingly rotated for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Moreover, when a sleeve 25 of a key member is inserted into the casing through a key slot 61 or 62, its nose 27 fits a groove 68 or 69 of an upward extension '70 of the plate 65; and when the key member is turned, said nose will lock thereunder to lock the casing elements together. This locking action will obtain even though the upper casing portion be unscrewed from the base 71 thereof.

Thus, it will not be possible to separate said casing elements to obtain access to the interior, for the said elements are securely locked, between the shoulder 24 and the nose 27, with extension which is secured to said base through plate 65. The base in turn is thus alsonot removable from a support 72 to which it has been attached, as by means of the screws 73 which are covered by a flange 74 of the casing.

It will be understood that in accordance with the invention, there is always one key in position in a casing which is locked therein by its nose as hereinbefore set forth and by the usual well-known locking action of a key in its barrel.

To render more difficult picking of a lock, the gear sectors 66 and 6'7 are provided with respective holes 75 and 76 and beneath these sectors are mounted resilient spring arms 77 and 78 having projecting pins 79 and 80 which extend upwardly therefrom and are adapted to register, in certain positions, with the respective holes or sockets 75 and '76. There extend upwardly from the spring arms further pins 81 and 82 which are coaxial with the barrels 63 and 64 and the gears 66 and. 67, said pins extending therein to a hight sufficient to make contact with,

the corresponding key element 26 when the key is inserted.

Normally, it will be understood that there is always a key inserted in the casing and the same is further locked therein against turning by a locking pin of the opposite gear sector registering with its opening upon turning the barrel with said key, which thus prevents its sector from'further turning.

When the second key memberis inserted it will depress the spring arm, through engagement of its key portion with the upstanding pin, to free the locking engagement; and, when turned as aforesaid, it will cause the previously mentioned sector in mesh therewith to rotate and bring its key to a position Where its nose fits into a vertical groove 68 or 69, so that when the corresponding locking pin then fits the corresponding hole of the gear wheel, said key is forced upwardly under the action of the corresponding spring arm.

In turning the inserted key to effect this release, said inserted key now becomes locked in the casing and can only be removed by the insertion of a further key in the other keyhole and operating. the same as aforesaid. It will be understood. that this feature is additional to the looking action of the key in its barrel and makes picking of the look more diflicult. A complete cycle of operation is as follows:

When a key is inserted, for example, in the socket thus prevents further turning of the key 21 and: given a turn, it moves locking member 41 to the right,'Fig. 3,causing theoute'r end of lever 49to engage in notch. 47 under the'influence of spring 512. This effects locking of the oscillatable locking member 41 and the inserted key... Finger 32 is then pulled downwardlyito'windiup'the'clock mechanism, whereupon it is released to send a signal. Pin 54 has been released in the meantime by the movement of member 41 to the right and is free to move in the undercut surface portion 41' of said member when the clock train then rotates the cam 52 one-quarter revolution and the signal wheel one-half revolution, the latter being geared accordingly. The signal wheel 29 is rotated with the cam, transmits the required signal 1 a through the contact-making elements 2829, and the key remains locked until completion of the signal when the high part of cam 52 raises the inner arm of lever 49 to disengage its outer arm from the notch 47 and thus free the key. The pin 53, however, has been rotated to a position engaging the circumference of member 41. To remove the key it is necessary to turn it in the reverse direction and move thereby member 41 to the left. This finally clears pin 53 permitting the key to be removed and causes the cam 52 to again rotate one-quarter revolution and to send an additional signalthrough the contact-making elements 28 and wheel 29 which makes one-half revolution. The pin 54 stops at the edge of member 40 to terminate the rotation of the cam. In the turning of member 41 to the left, the outer end of lever 49 becomes locked in the notch 45 and 111 socket 21.

A watchman then starts with the released key to make his rounds; and when the round is completed after visiting the various preliminary stations and the final key has been released, it is inserted in the socket 22. The key may then be turned therein and the finger 32 again pulled' down to transmit the two signals with pin 54 clearingthe undercut portion 40 as in the case of the insertion of a key in socket 21, the key in turning in socket 22 being locked therein through engagement of the outer end of lever arm 48 in the notch 46, completing the cycle.

I claim:

A watchmans signal system comprising a transmitter station and a series of preliminary stations to be visited by the watchman in consecutive order, a signal transmitter at the transmitter station embodying two lock members for controlling the signal operations of the transmitter, a key for one of the lock members, a different key for the other lockmember, means whereby one of the lock members is rendered operative to control the signal operation of the transmitter while the other is rendered inoperative to control the operation of the transmitter, means whereby the signal operations of the transmitter by the operative lock operates the first means to render said operative lock member inoperative to further control the signal operation of the transmitter and to render the other lock member operative to control the further operation of the transmitter is adapted for operation by the same key as one of the locks of the pair at the preceding station and the other lock of the pair is adapted to be operated by the same key as one of the locks of the pair of the succeeding station, means in each 4- I pair of I'ocRs whereby the operatfda (if 6m;- 01' the locks by its key will retain the key against removal Willa release the retained key of the other lock of the pair, one of the transmitteriock keys being designed for operation ofthe; free lock of the first of the preliminary stations 120* re lease the r'et'aihea iieywliibii' key rfi" tori-1 operates" 

